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HomePhotographyDarkroom EquipmentChemistryBlack & White Film & Paper ChemistryKodak XTOL

Kodak Professional XTOL Film Developer (To Make 5L)

BH #KOXTOLDEV • MFR #1058338
21 reviews
Kodak Professional XTOL Film Developer (To Make 5L)
Key Features
  • Powder B&W Film Developer
  • Ascorbic Acid-Based, No Hydroquinone
  • Full Film Speed and Normal Contrast
  • Very Fine Grain and High Sharpness
Kodak Professional XTOL Developer is a two-part powder developer for black and white film, characterized by its ability to maintain full film speed and offer notably fine grain and high sharpness. It is suitable for push and pull development, has excellent shelf life, and is a clean-working solution with stable performance for a variety of processing methods. Its ascorbic acid-based composition contains no hydroquinone and is convenient to mix at room temperature. This packet contains enough chemistry to make 5 liters of fresh working solution and can also be used as a replenisher for exhausted full-strength working solutions.
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$13.59
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Kodak XTOL Overview

Kodak Professional XTOL Developer is a two-part powder developer for black and white film, characterized by its ability to maintain full film speed and offer notably fine grain and high sharpness. It is suitable for push and pull development, has excellent shelf life, and is a clean-working solution with stable performance for a variety of processing methods. Its ascorbic acid-based composition contains no hydroquinone and is convenient to mix at room temperature. This packet contains enough chemistry to make 5 liters of fresh working solution and can also be used as a replenisher for exhausted full-strength working solutions.

UPC: 041771058333

Kodak XTOL Specs

Chemistry TypeFilm Developer
Powder/LiquidPowder
Material Weight1 x 8.75 oz / 248 g
Packaging Info
Package Weight1.175 lb
Box Dimensions (LxWxH)7.2 x 7.1 x 1.45"

Kodak XTOL Reviews

Don't buy the Kodak stuff

By Samuel
Rated 1 out of 5
Date: 2022-02-28

I used Xtol for a while and liked the results, especially with traditional films like Tri-X, HP5, and FP4. I'd started with Ilford's Ilfotec DD-X and, while I was pretty happy with it, Xtol was a lot cheaper and I liked the way films looked in it just marginally better. But that was a few years ago and since then Kodak's quality control has simply disappeared at least when it comes to chemicals. I got a bad batch of both this and Dektol last year and ruined a few rolls of film in it. (In case you're wondering you can tell it's bad if the part A won't dissolve easily.) I'd heard that Kodak had fixed these quality control issues and was hopeful, so I bought some more Xtol. When I tried to mix it today though I had the same issues as last time: The part A just would not completely dissolve. I've got four rolls of film with pictures of my twin boys on them and they're just too important to trust to this stuff and honestly my time is too valuable to waste gambling on trying to save a little money with any of Kodak's chemicals. I threw this out as well as the bag of Dektol I bought and from now on I'm only going to use Ilford's chemicals. If you really want to try Xtol though Adox and Eco Pro make their own versions. I've used the Eco Pro Ascorbic Acid Developer and it's pretty much indistinguishable from Xtol back when Kodak actually had quality control and people whose opinions I respect tell me that Adox's version, XT-3, is actually better than even Xtol back in the day. For me though, I'm just done messing with any version of the stuff given the finickiness of any developer that uses ascorbic acid instead of hydroquinone. DD-X is pricier and I like the look just every so slightly less, but I know I can count on it.

Great product

By Eric
Rated 5 out of 5
Date: 2021-10-17

Worked perfectly

Best developer

By Michael
Rated 5 out of 5
Date: 2021-10-04

I have processed film over 2 different orders of XTOL from 2021. The developer powders have always been white and the liquid is clear once mixed. I have not had any issues, but I know that occasionally people have had a bad batch. This developer always looks really good and consistent. I also like that it is low toxicity, low oder, and without metol or hydroquinone. Highly recommend.

Sharp

By Melvin
Rated 5 out of 5
Date: 2021-09-30

I love it, sharp with good contrast. The images 'pop' off the screen. I was using Cinestill monobath which produced good results and is fast to work with, but the XTOL diluted 1:1 is noticeably sharper and well worth the extra time.

standard developer

By Erich
Rated 5 out of 5
Date: 2021-08-22

XTOL 1:1 is my standard developer. Delivery was fast and price was good. Erich

I'm done with Kodak

By Ron
Rated 1 out of 5
Date: 2021-06-10

First, the geniuses at Kodak decided that 5 liters would be a convenient amount of stock developer. For who? In America, 4 quarts equals a gallon. How about a gallon of Xtol, Kodak? I bought a 5 liter vessel and 5 one liter storage vessels. I read so many good reviews that I thought I would try to support an American product that is easy on the environment. For a small use hobbyist this is enough developer for a year's worth of developing, but it won't keep for a year even in a full, tightly stoppered one liter bottles. I found this out the hard way...with no warning. When fresh, I did like XTol. I could even endure the hassle of the 5 liter mixing. But consistency is everything in film processing, and with three different batches stored exactly as directed, I found this stuff dies without warning. Is there anything worse than opening a developing tank and seeing a thin roll of negatives emerge, that you know were perfectly exposed? Maybe a whole vacation or shots of your grandkids that are of no use! So Kodak, you have blown it again. You created a great product, but not in a way that matches up to the user's reality. Maybe if you are a photojournalist shooting 5 rolls a week, or in a studio shooting high volume this packaging would work. But almost no one IS DOING THIS WITH FILM ANYMORE! For most people, Film use is now a low volume adjunct to digital photography. I'd rather mix up a gallon and throw half of it away than to pull a half developed roll of film out of the tank. So, I will shift my attention to ID11, Rodinal and other developers that can be mixed in small, reliable batches. And, yes, I was interested in environmental impact, but the truth is digital has almost no environmental impact. I will never shoot enough film to impact the environment. So, Kodak, you are too late with that, too. After 50 years of trying hard to stick with a great American company, I'm done.

epic

By Zane
Rated 5 out of 5
Date: 2022-02-27

very nice

my Go-to developer

By Eric
Rated 5 out of 5
Date: 2021-10-22

Xtol gives excellent results every time. Fine grain, and great tonality. It keeps well as a stock solution in a container with absolutely no air.

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YOUR RECENTLY VIEWED ITEMS

Can I mix this powder 1L at a time? If so, what ...

Can I mix this powder 1L at a time? If so, what is the suggested method for preserving XTOL powder after the package has been opened?
Asked by: Frank
yes, I do that all the time, for years, never had any issues. just make sure you have good scale to measure out the portions of powder correctly, and close the packets tight.
Answered by: Mike
Date published: 2021-11-08

How long is the shelf-life of the dry powder? I ...

How long is the shelf-life of the dry powder? I have powder from 15-20 yrs. ago and was wondering if I can still use it.
Asked by: Amit
While dry powder has a long shelf life, I highly doubt that your 20 year old powder is any good.
Answered by: Rob
Date published: 2021-04-02

can i use it with all black and white film?

can i use it with all black and white film?
Asked by: Cristobal
Yes for b&w film developing.
Answered by: Kelsey
Date published: 2021-01-15

Is the current batch problem free? Some people ...

Is the current batch problem free? Some people mentioned that the batch 2019/08/09 has some issues.
Asked by: Trung
I just finished processing for alternative printing four 8x10 Fuji Acos negatives using Kodak Xtol developer which I mixed yesterday using distilled water and all four were uniformly thin including the rebates notwithstanding that the time in the developer was 22.5 minutes. The negatives were shot with different lens on different days using a Sekonic L758-dr light meter to determine exposure. The Kodak catalogue number is 105 8338 with a manufacture date of 2019/08/09 and expiration date of 2022-08
Answered by: Thomas
Date published: 2021-06-14

What is new about this?

What is new about this?
Asked by: Reuben
It is the same developer as before. Kodak recently change their internal catalog number.
Answered by: Dan
Date published: 2019-10-31

Can I mix this and store it in a brown bottle? Or ...

Can I mix this and store it in a brown bottle? Or do I have to mix each individual batch as I'd like to use it?
Asked by: Jude
Mix the entire 5 liter batch as a stock solution. I mix it and store it at stock solution in four 1 liter bottles and 2 500ml bottles and then I can mix my 1:1 solution as needed. I find using the 2 500ml bottles makes things easier for storage and dilution. If you store it in one big bottle you would need to displace all the air in that bottle as you use the solution. Air permeates the developer and will ruin it. Quickly. Splitting the batch up into smaller quantites makes it easier to displace the air. After you pour your 1 liter solution into into the bottle you can displace any air by dropping a few marbles into the bottle so the solution has completely filled the bottle.
Answered by: Raymond
Date published: 2020-04-02
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